Has Instant Ocean's magnesium level changed?

[Myka]

Nanomano, you should be adding some calcium to the freshly mixed saltwater to get it up to 400-420 ppm before you use it. Technically, you should do the same with Mg. Alkalinity is fine in IO.

If a person is trying to keep parameters within reason without dosing then IO is not the best choice as the parameters are low to begin with so waterchanges won't fix anything. You're better off using Reef Crystals or H2Ocean or many of the other higher priced salts.

Originally Posted by fishytime

"Aqua Vittro" made by seachem....its the only salt I am aware of that individually tests each batch of salt and posts the values on the back

Really? I didn't know that, that's cool. Isn't it like $95 a bucket though?

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by Myka

Really? I didn't know that, that's cool. Isn't it like $95 a bucket though?

yup, they print a sticker for each batch.....and yes it is a fairly pricey salt

[Bblinks]

I checked the params with salinity at 1.026, temp at 26'C, using red sea and salifert kits and came up with 420ca, 10dkh, and 1350 mag. I know it sounds too good but that's what I got from both kits, well close enough. Last batch I checked was a few months ago and it was low in calcium, it was around 380 and the only thing I changed was instead of buying buckets I started to buy 200 gallon boxes. Weird?! I guess I better start to testing every batch again.

[Werbo]

Anybody else recently test a bucket of IO?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Myka

Really? I didn't know that, that's cool. Isn't it like $95 a bucket though?

I tried it once, I gave the bucket away. It mixed terrible, and my corals freaked out.
Crap, I'm hijacking, sorry...

[The Grizz]

From what I was told a while back that the buckets of Reef Crystals is better then the boxes for there levels of Calcium & Mag. The boxes are more intended for store use but it seems they are starting to produce more boxes rather then the boxes, I personally think that it might be simply because the buckets are more expensive to produce & harder to get rid of.

I have not tested mine lately but I really should, when I do I will post my results.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by fishytime

thats why you should always roll your bucket of salt before you use it, no matter what salt you use..... there is probably only one salt on the market that you can actually trust the values on the back of the bucket and that is "Aqua Vittro" made by seachem....its the only salt I am aware of that individually tests each batch of salt and posts the values on the back

How can you trust values on salt that has been documented to drop KH IN 3 hrs if you dont dump it into the tank? How does that even make sense?

IO is still some of the best if you dose chemicals.

[phi delt reefer]

the bags in teh 200 gallons boxes make for easy mixing instead of looking like donkey kong tossing barrels.

why go to all the work of adjusting each batch of IO when you can spend a few bucks more and get RC thats already pretty much where you need it. you have to consider the time saved not to mention a 200 gallon box of RC is $40-45 around Christmas.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I tried it once, I gave the bucket away. It mixed terrible, and my corals freaked out.
Crap, I'm hijacking, sorry...

I found the same thing brad. When I talked to Seachem they said to slowly add salt over an hour or 2 to properly mix salt.

My IO mixes in 30 minutes with a K4 in a 5 gal pail. At $40 a pail its hard to beat.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by phi delt reefer

the bags in teh 200 gallons boxes make for easy mixing instead of looking like donkey kong tossing barrels.

why go to all the work of adjusting each batch of IO when you can spend a few bucks more and get RC thats already pretty much where you need it. you have to consider the time saved not to mention a 200 gallon box of RC is $40-45 around Christmas.

Because they are way over charging you for those extra elements.